--- title: Funny Local News of the Past: 21 Totally Insane Vintage Stories description: People were seriously out of their minds canonical: https://time.com/3658871/ridiculous-old-news/ author: Lily Rothman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-14T12:00:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:06:21.946Z article:section: History og:title: Funny Local News of the Past: 21 Totally Insane Vintage Stories og:description: People were seriously out of their minds og:url: https://time.com/3658871/ridiculous-old-news/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt517be8941a34c1f1/698779c98e06016c2b459b43/porky.jpg?branch=production&width=838&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 838 og:image:height: 471 og:image:alt: porky og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Funny Local News of the Past: 21 Totally Insane Vintage Stories twitter:description: People were seriously out of their minds twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt517be8941a34c1f1/698779c98e06016c2b459b43/porky.jpg?branch=production&width=838&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 21 Totally Insane Vintage News Stories > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jan 14, 2015 12:00 PM UTC  From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME. From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME.TIME  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jan 14, 2015 12:00 PM UTC Lest anyone believe interest in [weird](http://time.com/3659105/a-guy-got-arrested-by-10-cops-for-wearing-an-im-with-stupid-t-shirt/) or f[unny](http://time.com/3659105/a-guy-got-arrested-by-10-cops-for-wearing-an-im-with-stupid-t-shirt/) local-news stories is a phenomenon of the Internet age, here’s a look at some of the gems that ran in the “Miscellany” column — under the heading “TIME Brings All Things” — in issues of TIME from the 1920s and 1930s. Shining a spotlight on everyday people who do stupid stuff is, it turns out, an enduring news-media tradition.  From the Mar. 3, 1923, issue of TIME. She must have had it hic-up to here. TIME  From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. Um, O.K. TIME  From the Oct. 12, 1923, issue of TIME. Proof that happy families aren't actually all alike. TIME  From the Dec. 12, 1932, issue of TIME. Gives new (creepy) meaning to "spooning" with someone. TIME  From the Apr. 28, 1923, issue of TIME. Perhaps the world's only baleen bailiff. TIME  From the Nov. 1, 1937, issue of TIME. When he did get any sleep, it was brief. TIME  From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME. Presented without comment. TIME  From the April 28, 1923, issue of TIME. Ironically unfunny. TIME  From the July 23, 1923, issue of TIME. Bow down. TIME  From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. They say if you love something, let it go. TIME  From the Aug. 26, 1924, issue of TIME. More like attachment bear-enting, am I right? TIME  From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. More like sowing your wild goats, am I right? TIME  From the Nov. 26, 1934, issue of TIME. More like wedding ows, am I right? TIME  From the Aug. 25, 1924, issue of TIME. Sit! Stay! Rollover your 401(k)! TIME  From the Apr. 9, 1928, issue of TIME. When they got married, she bit off more than she could chew. TIME  From the June 4, 1928, issue of TIME. And that is why you should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. TIME  From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. He must have had plenty of spare time. TIME  From the Aug. 10, 1931, issue of TIME. The ex-grain-ge rate was pretty good. TIME  From the Mar. 2, 1936, issue of TIME. That comes out to $3.00 for four-and-twenty. TIME  From the Jan. 25, 1937, issue of TIME. He wasn't Yankich-ing anyone's chain. TIME  From the Apr. 12, 1937, issue of TIME. Not bad! 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